Highlands County is about to begin making asphalt and history. The first government owned and operated asphalt plant in Florida should start production next week at the Highlands County Landfill, fueled mainly by methane gas that is now burned off. ...more

October 10, 2008

Whew! Ain't I the lucky one! I figure there's a whopping $240 savings on my typical, average home value now that Amendment 1 is said and done. And yet, I'll still have an end-of-the-year tax bill that's three times that of my neighbors. ...more

February 3, 2008

SEBRING –– There is both good and disappointing news regarding the condition of the 1,200 miles of roads maintained by Highlands County. First, the good news. The county will resurface 25 miles of roadways, eight more than last year, in the new fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. The disappointing news: At least 30 miles, and preferably 40 miles, should be resurfaced each year to keep the county road system in top shape, according to Brian Miller, the county's road construction inspector. There is also hope for expanding county road maintenance in future years, if Ken Wheeler's optimism about the county's asphalt plant bears out. In May, Highlands County is scheduled to open the state's first government owned asphalt plant at the county landfill. Wheeler, the county's director of solid waste, has predicted a cost of $69 per ton for paving with asphalt from that plant, $13 per ton less than the county's current contract price of $82 per ton. ...more

October 29, 2007

SEBRING — Raymond McIntyre is unwilling to speculate on exactly what the Florida Legislature might do later this week, but his best guess is that the superexemption proposal is politically dead, and that the governor's idea to double homestead exemptions is finally going to pass. ...more

October 11, 2007

Legislative leaders say they have agreed to remain in special session until October 22 to try to cut property taxes. ...more

October 10, 2007